Knox Co, TN – Injury Crash on SB I‑75 at  Callahan Rd

Knox Co, TN (April  23, 2025) – An injury car crash occurred on southbound I‑75 near the Callahan Rd exit just after 8:25 a.m. Eastern Time, disrupting Knoxville’s already congested Thursday commute. Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) investigators report that a silver SUV traveling in the middle lane attempted a last‑second merge toward the off‑ramp when it sideswiped a maroon sedan in the right lane. The collision sent both vehicles spinning; the sedan struck the concrete barrier and came to rest facing traffic, while the SUV stopped on the shoulder, partially blocking the gore area.

Rural Metro Fire and Knoxville Fire Department units arrived within minutes, initiating lane closures to protect responders and motorists. Firefighters stabilized the sedan and assisted paramedics from AMR Knox County EMS in extricating its driver, a 29‑year‑old Powell resident, who had sustained a fractured collarbone, facial abrasions, and suspected internal bruising. She was transported in stable condition to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for further evaluation. The SUV’s driver, a 44‑year‑old Knoxville man, suffered minor wrist sprains and declined ambulance transport after treatment at the scene.

Crews shut down the right two lanes for nearly ninety minutes while THP crash‑reconstruction officers documented scrape patterns, retrieved dash‑cam video from a nearby tractor‑trailer witness, and marked final rest positions. TDOT HELP trucks managed traffic through a single open lane, causing southbound backups that stretched more than four miles toward Merchants Dr. Wrecker operators removed the disabled vehicles by 9:55 a.m., and all lanes reopened shortly afterward.

Preliminary findings indicate an unsafe lane change and failure to ensure clearance in dense, stop‑and‑go conditions as contributing factors; citations are expected. Alcohol or impairment is not suspected. Authorities remind drivers to signal early and maintain safe following distances, especially near busy exit ramps such as Callahan Rd, where sudden slowdowns are common.

Our thoughts are with the injured motorists as they recover from this morning’s I‑75 crash.